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Draevyn

E smyra swung her fist with a snarl, aiming for Draevyn’s face. He caught it, stumbling with the impact. The force behind it was impressive, he had to admit. But there was something charged behind it that hadn’t been there before.

She put a wall up, and he didn’t know why.

It had been a week since they arrived in Maerinys.

Seven long days of being trapped beneath the waves of Rymelle’s seas.

Draevyn was out of his mind with theories and pieces of the puzzle he was putting together regarding this kingdom’s past. But he still wasn’t anywhere closer to discovering a way for them to escape.

Her leg swung in a roundhouse kick, a blur of motion through the air. He barely caught her ankle before it struck his face. Flashing her a grin, she ripped it from his grasp with a snarl.

One thing, however, was certain from the last three days since their heated moment in the garden—Esmyra was different. Their nights had grown quiet, separate, and more distant than they’d been even since they met in Anchorage Cove.

When they’d first arrived, she’d been so fierce—untamed and fiery in everything she said or did, but now…she was a shell of that. Anger was visible in her features, no matter the angle .

And, all gods above, he couldn’t figure out why. Had she found out about what Syrena tried to get him to do?

When he thought about it more, he realized everything had changed after the day he held her close to him as they trained. Perhaps he overstepped, but she never shoved him away. And he knew her well enough to know that if she was against what he did, she would’ve made it known.

Likely violently.

Draevyn hardly recognized her. Standing across from him, spear in hand, Esmyra wore that same steely expression she typically did.

Only her eyes were cold. She hadn’t looked at him with anything resembling amusement or warmth in days.

It was as though she’d closed a door, and he hadn’t been quick enough to catch it before it slammed shut in his face.

Esmyra threw herself into their spar and held nothing back, each of her thrusts more forceful than the last. It was like she was pouring everything into keeping her focus there, on the fight. Anywhere, it seemed, but on him.

Draevyn replayed the last few days in his head as he continued to block her attacks.

He went over their interactions, trying to pick apart each conversation, each sparring session.

He recalled making a few stray comments about her stubbornness, or the way her eyes seemed to flash when she was defiant, but he assumed she knew he was joking.

Well, perhaps he wasn’t. But it was all in good fun.

He thought she liked it—that bit of banter that made everything feel less serious, less suffocating down here. Even if only for a moment.

But then it all came to an abrupt halt.

The glances she used to send his way, the barely hidden grins when she’d get a hit in or even when she missed on purpose—those were gone, faded into something distant and cold.

Esmyra swung her spear again, and he barely had time to deflect it. He tightened his grip on his weapon, unable to shake the feeling that she was fighting more than just him.

Perhaps she was just exhausted. However, he noticed she didn’t seem nearly as eager to leave anymore, not having brought up Blackwood or their crew in days.

They were supposed to be allies, but as more days passed, the more he felt that she had been keeping something from him again.

Esmyra had barely said anything to him outside of what was strictly necessary.

He didn’t mind silence—but this was different.

She was pulling herself away, and he didn’t know how to bring it up without her retreating even more.

Another blow came hard and fast, her spear aimed just shy of his shoulder. He managed to duck, twisting his weapon to disarm her, but she countered with alarming speed.

“No cheating,” he said, trying to break the ice. “No magic.”

She’d gotten better. Focused. Somehow even more deadly, but that was the point.

Esmyra didn’t say a word as she struck again, and Draevyn barely parried it as his grip tightened on the shaft of his spear to push her back.

“You’re holding nothing back today, are you?” he said, attempting a grin, though he could feel the strain behind it.

Draevyn was beginning to see through her walls. See her for who she was—who Jak had said she was.

So, what happened to that fire? He missed that raging blaze, full of life and defiance, loathing this cold flickering flame she’d become.

Again, Esmyra didn’t respond, just met his gaze with sharp, narrowed eyes.

His frustration burned hotter, clenching his jaw so tightly he thought his teeth would shatter. If it weren’t for the wretched bracelet encircling his wrist, flames would likely dance at the edge of his fingertips.

With an aggravated exhale, he threw his spear down to the ground, the clang echoing across the garden as it fell to the stones beneath their feet. Esmyra halted, brows furrowing as she looked at him.

Crossing his arms, he held her gaze, letting every ounce of his irritation bleed through his stance. “What in all fucking gods is with you?”

“Absolutely nothing,” she snapped, her jaw tense.

“Nothing?” he challenged. “You’re going to stand there and lie, telling me nothing’s wrong when you’ve barely looked at me in days? You’ve been acting like a stranger.”

A breathy, irritated chuckle left her, but her stare never left his. “I have some news for you, Draevyn. That’s exactly what we are.”

His nostrils flared, jaw ticking. He knew it was only a matter of time before the garden was flooded with staff, just as it was every morning, and he wanted this addressed here and now.

“I don’t believe that for a second. Like it or not, we’re far from strangers.”

Esmyra threw her spear down to the ground next to his and placed her hands on her hips. “Oh? And what makes you think that?”

Draevyn snorted. “We’ve held each other captive one too many times to be considered as such.”

Together, they had harnessed their magic and merged it into a single, unstoppable force in the caves. They had saved each other’s lives. Desperately screamed each other’s names when danger found them.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say any of those things.

“Aye. Well, perhaps stranger isn’t the right word then. So acquaintances will do, I suppose.”

“Did something happen, Esmyra?” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Fucking Irah, I can’t even tell if you still want to find a way out of here anymore.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Of course I do!” She threw her hands out to the side.

“I’ve done my part, haven’t I? Syrena thinks we’re getting closer.

That’s our only way out, Draevyn. We’re as stuck down here as the rest of them now.

My father fucking rots because of yours, and there’s nothing I can do about it until I do the impossible and find a way to raise this kingdom! ”

“Then what is all of this about?!” he bellowed. The tension between them tightened, the sharp sting of her words ringing in his ears. “You’re different. At least with me.”

She averted her gaze to the ground. “No, I’m not,” she said quietly, but he didn’t miss the small crack in her voice.

A growl brewed deep within his chest at her stubbornness. “I don’t think you believe your own lies, Esmyra.”

Something flickered in her stare that he couldn’t quite grasp. But it was there, and he saw it. Perhaps he had reached her.

Draevyn swallowed. “If this is about the other day…when I held you.”

Her blue eyes flared wide. “What? No! Of course not. Why would you even think that?”

“Well, considering it’s the last time you were acting normal toward me.”

She scoffed. “You don’t know me well enough to know what’s normal , Draevyn Rowe.”

Draevyn stepped up to her, their chests brushing against one another. “I know wildfire when I see it. And she’s gone. Far from anywhere near me, that’s for damn sure.”

Esmyra’s breath hitched. “Well, I’m sorry you thought you saw something in me that wasn’t there.” She paused for a moment, and he could’ve sworn he saw hurt flash in her eyes. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

Before he could respond, she slammed her shoulder into his and stormed past him. Draevyn watched as she walked out of the gardens and beyond his sight, leaving him there, speechless.